Chapter 6

“She doesn’t seem to think so.”

“No, she doesn’t, does she?” He sighed. “I’m leaving the country for a few weeks. Is it too ungentlemanly to break it off with her on New Year’s Day?”

He was asking me? “It’s better than Valentine’s Day.”

“Have you done that?”

I hadn’t, but that wasn’t because I only did one-night stands—I’d never be fool enough to get so involved with someone that they’d expect me to spend holidays with them.

There was that thing I’d had with my partner, whatever that was, but then he’d gone and gotten himself kidnapped, tortured, and killed. I’d taken care of the bastards who’d gutted him and strangled him with his intestines, but after that, I’d refused to have another partner, ever.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. That’s a personal question.”

Shit, I’d been quiet too long. “Not a problem.”

“Your Cosmo, sir.” The bartender offered Mann the martini glass.

Mann took it, slipped a bill into the tip cup, and stared down into the pink drink.